---
title: O.C.G.A. § 15-11-324. Testimony and evidence from foster parents, caregivers, and others.
collection: code
id: 15-11-324
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 15-11-324 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/15-11-324
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/15-11-324.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/15-11-324/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t15-ch1-11a-(v13)-2020-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=d8a8826c_0#page=1092
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/15-11.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/15-11-323.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/code/15-11-340.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: Effective January 1, 2021
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: COURTS / JUVENILE CODE / TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS / DISPOSITION
---

# O.C.G.A. § 15-11-324. Testimony and evidence from foster parents, caregivers, and others.

(a) After the court has granted a termination of parental rights, and during the dispositional phase of such case contemplated in Code Section 15-11-321 and in any post-dispositional review under Code Section 15-11-322, the court shall in making its disposition consider the testimony of and evidence provided by any foster parent, caregiver, relative, or other individual in whose physical custody the child has resided for at least 12 months during a period ending not more than 90 days preceding the filing of the petition, provided that such individual expresses a desire and willingness to adopt the child.

(b) Such testimony and evidence may include evidence regarding the level of attachment and bonding between the child and caregiver; the child’s health, safety, and well-being; and such other evidence that the court may consider relevant to its disposition of the case. The court may, in its discretion, limit the scope of such evidence as it may deem relevant and material to the dispositional issues at hand.

## History

Code 1981, § 15-11-324, enacted by Ga. L. 2020, p. 241, § 5/SB 439.

## Effective Date

This Code section becomes effective January 1, 2021.